Yarn-changer for double-feed automatic circular-knitting machines.



J. LAWSON.

YARN CHANGER FOR DOUBLE FEED AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTiNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1913.

1,145,375. Patented July 6, 1915.

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I. LAWSON.

YARN CHANGER FOR DOUBLE FEED AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

v APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3.19I3. 1,145,375, Patented July 6, 1915.

/ 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FRONT UNITED STATES JOHN LAWSON, or CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

YARN-CHANGER FOR DOUBLE-FEED AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J u-ly 6, 1915.-

Application filed February 3, 1913. Serial No. 745,804.

To (171 20710222 it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN Lawson, acitizen of the United States, residing at Central Falls, in the countyof Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Yarn-Changers for Double-Feed AutomaticCircular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In a-co-pending application for patent filed by me in the U. 5. Patent()tiice, Serial X0. 703.628, I have shown and described a double-feedcircular knitting machine for automatically producing seamlessstockings.

My present invention relates to yarnchangers for knitting machines ofthe class above referred to, but more especially, however, to knittingmachines in which the needle-carrying cylinders are revoluble, and inwhich the tubular portions of the stockings are knitted from a pluralityof independently arranged main' threads or doublefeed knitting, as itmay be termed. In knittingmachines of this last-named type the threadsare usually introduced at diametrically opposite points and providedwith means for knitting both threads simultaneously during certain partsof the stocking.

A serious .iibjoc to the usual manner of employing a swondaryknitting-thread is due to the fact that the thread is ke t moving in theplain threml-guide or eye, the thread at the same time also engaging thefront of the sinkers and moving back and forth thereagainst when it isthus normally idle or non-knitting, as when the cylinder isreciprocating in producing the heel and toe parts. Such resulting actionupon the thread causes excessive wear and abrasion. In case the threadis of fine silk or lisle fiber, the percentage of loss and imperfectproduct becomes of even greater consideration.

The object of the invention forming the subject of this application forU. S. patent is to provide an automatically controlled yarn-changerdevice for the secondary threads of double-feed knitting machines: the"construction and arrangement of said device being such that theyarn-changer 1s caused to place its thread (the secondary thread) inposition for knitting action relatively to the needles at predeterminedtimes concurrently with positioning the corresponding knitting cams andsinker-retract My invention is well adapted to be employedin double-feedknitting machines, thereby more rapidly producing the leg portions ofplain stcckingsait also may be used in knitting the foot portions ofplain knits ted stockings.

In knitting machines for the production of split-foot stockings, whereinthe sole of the foot portion is knitted from a heavier or differentthread than is used in the upper part, my invention is particularlyadvantageous in that the yarn-changer and its thread are caused to beautomatically moved bodily out of knitting position and held stationarywhile the cylinder-is reciprocating in producing the heel and toeportions from the other knitting thread. At the commencement of thesplit-foot part (the cylinder still moving in a reciprocatory manner)the yarn-changer is moved bodily to place its thread downward intoknitting position to cooperate with the other knitting-thread orthreads; at the same time, too, the secondary knitting and sinker-camsare automatically positioned to convert the last-named thread intocourses connecting with the other part of the foot:

In the two accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating my improvedyarn-changer connected with certain portions of an automatic circularknitting machine, Figure 1 represents a partial end elevation, viewedfrom the left. the parts being in the normal 4 knitting position; Fig. 2is a vertical crosssectional view, in enlarged scale, takensubstantially on line 2'2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a top plan view, some ofthe parts being omitted; Fig. 4 is a partial top plan view showing theposition of the secondary sinker-cam when the secondary knittingthreadis. inactive, and Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation.

It may be, stated in advance that the general type of knitting machinerepresented, except as to the inclusion of improvements, issubstantially like that shown in Hemphills U. S. Patent- No. 933,443, ofSeptember '7. 1909. The following is a brief description of portions ofthe said knitting machine, 'and including a more detailed description ofthe yarn-changer forming'the subject of the present application forpatent.

pivotally mounted lever Z, in connection "iilll a vertical link Zjointed to the opposite.

rentl'y with the act of moving the secondary thread downward intoknitting position. lhis lastnamed movement is effected by nieans' of anarm member u connected to Ai'al'tlfl'OllTtllB needles while thesecondary thread is thus inactive:

5 The mainframe (at-together with the top and extending upward from therod 7 70 table a of the machine have the various" to engage an. arm'of'the yarn-changer A. knitting instrumentalities mounted. thereon; vlhus it will be apparent that the secondary for example, a revolubleneedle and sinkerthread. is automatically positioned for knitv carryingcylinder N a horizontal main camting action whenever the lever l bearsupon 10 shafts arranged tomove in the arrow dithe cam-lugs f, and isnormally inactive 7-5 rectioii in a step-by-step manner, a main when theshaft 8 in its movements permits cam-block D with itsknitting-cai is,and a the lever to drop from-the lugs onto the normally stationaryhinged latch-guard H plain surface or barrel 7' oi the cam C surmountingtheneedle-cylinder etc. 'The spring zf connected totlie yarn-changer 5latch-guard is extended at the right, said causes the latter toautomatically place its 83 -eXtension being provided with movable threadupward out of knitting, actionyarn-guides a for the niain tliread 2?;said (see "dotted line position Fig. 2) upon the yarn-guides beingdisposed above the camenga ement ot' the lever I with tlie'surface blockD. 1X substantially fiat plate B is f ot the cam a spring t encirclingthe located within the needle-row, said plate berod 1 serving at thesame time to insure the 8 ing secured to the latclrguardand movabledownward movement of the latter. bodily with it. "The plate Bfniaybepro- Means for moving the secondary .camvided on its upper face with amechanically block D toward and from the needlecylinactuated yarn-holderor binderll adapted der ma be effected by means of a suitably t toretain the main thread if when the latter actuated horizontal link atjointed to a piv- 99 is temporarily inactive or floating) The oted lever11-, in turn jointed to a crossbinde'r device is or may be actuated orcon head a carrying a pair of guided laterally trolled by means of anelongated suitably separated rods nlfixed to the block I), sub- I drivenslotted lever Z: pivoted to tlie 'latclistantially as shown in Figs; 1,3 and guard. A thread-severing device having The secondaryknitting-tlireadt is posi 9-5 cutting jaws, indicated at'l'l Fig. 3,adapttioned downward for action. concurrently.

ed to be actuated by said lever is may be with the action of suitablytimed mechaemployed for obvious purposes. nism for placing the secondarysinker-cam At a point diametrically opposite the said i; outward tosuccessively position the thread-guides u is located my improved in-'sinkers 0 while the thread is introduced to dependently operableyarn-changer device the needles in passingthat point. At the A for thesecondary thread 15 see Figs; 1, same time, too, the mechanism connected2, and 3. The said yarn-changer properlis with the sliding block 1).moves the latter connected to and capable of movement inward so as tocause its knitting-cams to 4,0- bodily with the latcl'r-guard; theco'iistruc-- engage the needles and convert the thread tion andarrangement being such that the into connected stitches. r

secondary thread may be' automatically 'The secondary thread t 'is movedout of moved into and out of knitting action 'atknitting action throughthe medium of said predetermined points while the latch-guard spring 2simultaneously with the down- =45 is in the normally dropped positionThe ward movement of the vertical rod Z? and yarn-changer A' is pivotedto a lug h of theits extension 14 said downwardmovement 'guard, thethread-carrying end "of the of the rod Z at the same time permittingformer being adapted to swing in a transthe spring 6 to press thesecondary sinkerverse gap or recess w formed in the guard rain 5 inwardto its limit and'cause the H. Means? represented for-"moving the -isinkers to travel in a'path concentrically yarn-changer to place thesecondary thread with the cylinder at that pointu See Fig. 4,

in knitting position consist of a cam C sewhich represents the cam andsinkers in the cured to-said shaft 5, said cam having suitinwardposition. The 'mechanism for conable'peripherally arranged lugs theselattrolling the movements of the cam-block E5E ter, when engaged by thefree end 7 of the. D is'tinied so as to move the block out-- H The innerend portion of the secondary thread; 72 (when inactive or floating) mayend thereof and to the rear end of a swingting horizontal upper lever Zimpart vertical r movement to the guided spring-pressed rod be held or.retaiiied by a mechanically ac- 2 Z vertically supported on the free endof. tu'at'ed binder H mounted on said plate B lever Z .v The upper end7* of rod Z is substantially as represented'in Figs.2 and 3. beveled orwedge-sha 'ie and arranged to en- Ihe movements of the swinging bindergagewith and retract the 'sprii ig-pressed or clanipingarm H 'niay beeffected through 0 secondary sinkercam e outward concurthe medium ofsaid lever}: and suitable con 13 nections adapted to be actuated by acam (not shown on the main cam-shaft s. I

I claim as my invention: L. The combination in a knitting-machine,-

. of a revoluble knitting-cylinder provided with needles and sinker-s, apivoted latch-guard normally positioned above the cylinder, ayarn-changer or feeder pivoted to the latchguard, said yarn-changercarrying a secondary' knitting yarn, a radially movable horizontalsecondary sinker-cam disposed with respect to the needles and sinkers,means engageable with the yarn-changer and sinkercam for, simultaneouslymoving them into the respective normal knitting positions, and means forautomatically moving the last-named elements to place the secondary yarnin an inoperative position. i

2. In an automatic double-feed knitting machine having. a revolubleneedle and sinker-carrying cylinder, ,2; main yarn feeder, andinstrumentalities adapted to convert a yarn carried by itinto: knittedcourses of stitches, the combination there-. with ofa suitablymounted'movablev yarnchanger adaptedto .carry a secondary yarn disposed"diametrically opposite said yarnfeeder, movable knitting-cams'locatedbelow the yarn-changer, a secondary" sinker-cam, means for moving thelatter inward and outward, and means for causing the yarnchanger toautomatically place its yarn in knitting position simultaneously withthe act of moving said sinker-cam outward.

3. A circular knitting-machine, having, combination, a main cam-shaft, aneedlecylinder provided with needlesand sinkers, a inovable' secondarysinker-cam, knittingcams and devices cooper-able therewith for knittinga secondary yarn, a movable latchguard having an open recess therein, aswinging yarn-changer device for the secondary yarn' having, a memberthereof adapted to pass through said recess in placing its-yarn in theknitting and non-knittin positions, a clamping-arm I-li movable boc ilywith the latch-guard for holding the secondary yarn stationary in thenon-knitting position while the needle-cylinder is 1 reciprocating, andinstrumentalities actuated fromsaid main cam-shaft for automat-' icallyplacing in the idle or inoperative po- ;sitions the said secondarysinker-cam, the secondary knittin' .yarn-chan er, an .at the same timecausing -cams, and-the secondary the said 0 amping-arm to engage andhold the secondary yarn, substantially as described. y

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two'witnesses. JOHN LAWSON.

.Witnessesf GEO. H. REMINGTON, CHARLES C. REMINGTON.

